WATERFIELD, ROBERT "BOB"

WATERFIELD, ROBERT "BOB" (26 July 1920-25 Mar. 1983), FOOTBALL player with the Cleveland and Los Angeles Rams (see CLEVELAND RAMS), in his rookie season led the Cleveland Rams to the 1945 Natl. Football League championship and was unanimously elected the league's Most Valuable Player. Born in Elmira, N.Y., to Jack and Frances Waterfield, he played football for UCLA (1941, 1942, 1944), then spent his entire professional career with the Rams. In 1945, the 6'2" 200-lb. quarterback completed 51% of his passes, threw 16 touchdown passes, and scored 5 touchdowns himself. He was also the punter and placekicker, making 31 of 34 field goals in 1945. During his first 4 years, he also played defense, intercepting 20 passes. Waterfield led the NFL in passing (1945, 1951) and field goals (1949, 1951), during his career completing 813 of 1,617 attempted passes (50.3%) for 11,849 yards and 98 touchdowns. Waterfield himself scored 573 points on 13 touchdowns, 315 points after touchdowns, and 60 field goals. As a punter he kicked for a 42.4-yard average. He led the Los Angeles Rams to 3 Western Div. crowns and the NFL championship (1951). After retiring, Waterfield coached the Rams (1960-62), then became a team scout and a rancher near Van Nuys, Calif. During his 1 season in Cleveland, Waterfield attracted special attention because his wife, actress Jane Russell, spent the football season with him. Married in 1943, the couple divorced in 1968. They had three adopted children: Thomas, Tracy, and Robert. Waterfield married again in 1970 to Ann Mangus. Waterfield was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.